Drum Lessons

Drums

Drums are found in nearly every culture in the world and have existed since before 6000 B.C. They've had ceremonial, sacred, and symbolic associations. Percussion instruments have strong ceremonial, sacred, or symbolic associations almost everywhere. Certain drums symbolise and protect tribal royalty in much of Africa. They were also used to transmit messages over long distances.

Drumming

Drumming is great and playing nice beats in your favourite music style gives you a great feeling! Groove, drive and swing is what drummers are all about. Consider, for example, well-known drummers such as Billy Cobham, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes, Steve Gadd, Danny Richmond, Philly joe Jones, Mike Clark, Dave Weckl, Zakir Hussain, Cesar Zuiderwijk or Charlie Watts. And yes... there are many more!

Heart Beat

Historians believe that human beings used to beat on objects and bodies or stomped on the ground to produce musical sounds. Producing sound was useful for both communications and as an accompaniment for dancing. It moved people's minds and hearts during events and religious ceremonies. The ancient desire for rhythm developed over time to the modern drum kits we have today. Below is a timeline of how drums have developed and evolved over the years.

Prehistoric Times

The first drums made from natural objects such as alligator skin appeared during 5500 BC. They first came about in Neolithic cultures originating from China but later spread to all of Asia. This period also saw the creation of Bronze Dong Son Drums in Vietnam during 3000 BC. Sri Lanka and African people later discovered drums between 1000 and 500 BC, which they used to communicate. The culture of drums would then spread to Rome and Greece between 200 and 150 BC. Drumming spread to Europe during 1200 AD via Mediterranean trading routes. African drums later arrived in America through the slave trade in 1500 AD.

The Emergence of the Cymbals

Cymbals originated from ancient China or Turkey in 1100 BC. They were also common in Egypt, Israel, and the Middle East during the same period. Cymbals typically consist of metal and produce a tinkling, dinging, or brushing sound. In modern bands, the cymbals often establish the time signature. This instrument has since undergone various improvements to what we have today. They also played a major role in medieval and Renaissance Europe. The snare drum and its relatives were used in the infantry to send coded instructions to the soldiers.